Very minerally with crushed stone and limestone. Black berries and blueberries. Violets. Full-bodied with tight and firm tannins and lovely length. Tannic and firm. Needs time to soften and come together. But beautiful...

I was blown away by the quality of the 2020 L'Hetre, and this estate, as well as the entire Castillon region, is one to watch going forward. Based on 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, brought up in 30% new French oak, it...

(VN 93-95 points) Full, bright-rimmed violet. Highly fragrant cherry and black raspberry scents, along with suggestions of pipe tobacco, olive, peony and baking spices. Juicy and energetic in the mouth, offering...

Owned by Beaune producer Louis Jadot, this estate produces some fine wines. Ripe black fruits and layers of tannins show that this is still developing into a ripe, floral wine. The wine is full, packed with fruit and...

In this stylish wine, fruit and tannins are in harmony. Black plum flavors are richly concentrated with the firm structure. The wine is set for long-term aging. Drink from 2027. - Roger Voss

I continue to absolutely love what this estate puts in the bottle, and it remains an incredible value given its quality. The 2020 Château Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien) reveals a deeper ruby/purple hue to go with gorgeous...

Shimmering salmon skin. Mineral- and spice-accented red berry and pit fruit scents are complemented by a suave floral topnote. Silky and focused on the palate, offering lively strawberry, blood orange and nectarine...

Ripe grapefruit and nettles on the nose, following through to a medium-bodied, silky palate, where the juice turns more lemony, though the light pithy grapefruit grip remains and, together with dry minerals gives a tight...

On the fresh, bright vibrant, racy side of the style range with a focus on its complex core of honeysuckle, dried oranges, apricots, lemon curd, saffron, marzipan, pineapple, vanilla, and just the right drizzle of honey...

I finished my trip through Bordeaux with the 2020 Château Haut-Brion, and it was certainly a fitting cap to the trip. Revealing a deep ruby/plum hue, the 2020 exhibits extraordinary aromatics of ripe black fruits...

From a north-facing site that has consequently been denied the premier cru appellation, the 2020 Pouilly-Fuissé Les Courtelongs has turned out very well, unfurling to reveal notions of green apple, orange oil, buttery...

Supple, sensuous and fresh, there is a vibrancy and purity to the fruits that makes you want to pay attention. Full-bodied, rich and generous, the wine feels as good as it tastes as it feels. The fruits linger and expand...

Lemons, salted butter, white apricots and white grapefruits here, with toasted nuts too. It’s medium-bodied with a tasty roasted nut character lending opulence, yet balanced by bright acidity. Drink now.

The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape is slightly deeper ruby/plum-hued and is based on 47% Grenache, 29% Mourvedre, and 24% Syrah. Smoked red and black fruits, ground pepper, cured meats, and leather all emerge on the nose, and...

(95-97 points) Not yet bottled, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is all very old vine Grenache from the sandy soils of the Cristia lieu-dit. Brought up in demi-muids and a mix of new and used barrels, it gives...

The wonderful red-cherry fruit with hints of redcurrant and blackcurrant pulls you into this very expressive wine. For all the ripeness, the really striking thing about this is the great vitality, the way it leaps and...

(98-100 points) Full-bodied, concentrated, rich and velvety, the wine promptly provides layer after layer of flawlessly ripe, black and dark red pit fruits, crushed rocks, licorice, espresso, smoke and flowers. Long...

(91-93 points) Here the restrained nose is more floral but less citrus in character with moderately prominent spice and quinine nuances adding breadth. The palate impression is one of contrasts as the succulent and round...

Ripe black fruits and rich tannins are piled high in this wine. It shows finesse in the tannins and in the blackberry flavors. This second wine is likely to age well. Drink from 2026 - Roger Voss

Notions of cherries, berry compote, sweet soil tones and smoke introduce the 2020 Morgon, a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy wine with lively acids, melting tannins and a saline finish. As usual, it's derived...

Full pear and candied-lemon nose with quite pronounced, yeasty notes from sur-lie maturation and a hint of tarragon. Quite a rich, bold wine for Santenay, but with a cool, slightly herbal side that balances the ripeness...

(90-92 points) Notes of sweet spices, wild berries, licorice, loamy soil and smoke introduce the 2020 Pommard 1er Cru Les Grand Epenots (Maison Louis Jadot), a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy wine, with a deep core...

Moving to the three Hermitage releases, the 2020 Hermitage Domaine Des Tourettes offers a deep, saturated purple hue as well as a powerful bouquet of scorched earth, creosote, peppered meat, liquid violets, and both black...

This youthful Loire red has a touch of funk on the nose that slowly dissipates with aeration to reveal a wealth of red-berry fruit and some wild herbs. On the fresh, medium-bodied palate there’s plenty of depth and some...

The 2020 Chablis Blanchot Grand Cru, half aged in 400-litre oak barrels, has a rather straightforward nose considering the vineyard in question, although it opens with aeration. The oak here is a little obtrusive. The...

Smelling this great Chateauneuf is like gazing into a deep chasm. Amazing complexity with aromas ranging from black raspberries through to candied orange, but also notes of raw meat and licorice. Super-concentrated...

Another notable success is the 2020 Fleurie Poncié, a medium to full-bodied, elegant and lively wine evocative of cherries, red berries and rose petals. Structurally refined and charming, it concludes with an expansive...